Artsy Endeavors: English Vocabulary List

a clever and concise expression that contains a general truth or principle

"His favorite apothegm is "Time heals all wounds."

"Benjamin Franklin's famous apothegm early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise."

something occurring at a time when it could not have existed or happened

"The smartphone in the movie was an anachronism."

"The film contained an anachronism when a character used a modern device in a historical setting."

a man-made object, tool, weapon, etc. that was created in the past and holds historical or cultural significance

"The museum displays a 2000-year-old artifact."

"Archaeologists discovered an ancient artifact that provided insight into the daily lives of early humans."

a protruding structure that supports a building or wall and is made out of bricks or stones

"The buttress held it."

"The ancient cathedral's massive stone buttress provided essential structural support, preventing the tall walls from collapsing outwards."

an individual who is an expert of art, food, music, etc. and can judge its quality

"The wine connoisseur could identify any vintage."

"The wine connoisseur could identify the grape variety and region just by smelling and tasting a small sip."

a musical composition in which two or more independent melodies are played or sung simultaneously, creating harmony and interplay

"In counterpoint two melodies play together beautifully."

"The composer used counterpoint to weave two beautiful melodies together, creating a rich and harmonious piece of music."

the last section of a literary or dramatic piece where the plot is concluded and all the matters of the work is explained

"The denouement resolved all the storylines."

"The denouement of the novel revealed how the detective solved the mystery and caught the real killer."

a text or speech that offers high praise for a person or thing, not necessarily linked to the deceased

"The friend gave a moving eulogy."

"The best man's eulogy at the funeral brought tears to everyone's eyes as he shared warm memories."

the fact of having an excessive number of words that results in being tedious

"The prolixity of his speech made everyone in the room very sleepy."

"The audience grew restless because of the prolixity of the professor's two-hour lecture."

an individual who has the skill of telling stories in a way that is entertaining

"The old raconteur told stories for hours."

"My grandfather was a gifted raconteur who could hold an audience spellbound for hours with his fascinating stories."

coming from the imagination rather than facts

"The story is fanciful."

"The fanciful story about a dragon who loved to knit was too silly for adults but the children found it delightful."

(of phrases, words, ideas, etc.) used so much that it has lost its effect, interest, or originality

"The plot is hackneyed."

"The plot is hackneyed and has been used in hundreds of other movies before this one."

resembling Franz Kafka's works in being extremely nightmarish, bizarre, and confusing

"The situation is Kafkaesque."

"The situation is Kafkaesque and filled with absurd bureaucratic obstacles that make no sense."

disturbing and fear inducing due to its connection with death, murder, violence, etc.

"The story is macabre."

"The story is macabre and includes graphic descriptions of death and violence."

(of sounds) smooth, pleasant, and sweet to the ear

"Her voice is mellifluous."

"The singer's mellifluous voice captivated the audience, filling the concert hall with beautiful, harmonious melodies."

seeming unreal, confusing, and dream-like

"The dream was phantasmagorical."

"The dream was phantasmagorical and filled with shifting shapes and strange colors that did not make sense."

not based on honesty or truth and intended to mislead others

"He is a phony person."

"He is a phony person who pretends to be friendly but talks badly about people behind their backs."

referring to something that happens, is published, or is awarded after the death of the person to whom it relates

"He received a posthumous award."

"He received a posthumous award after his death because his family accepted it on his behalf."

a saying that coveys an idea in a manner that is short and witty

"That is a good epigram."

"Oscar Wilde was renowned for his epigrams, which often offered a witty and insightful commentary on society."

the study of techniques and principles for using language effectively, especially in public speaking

"His rhetoric was very persuasive."

"The politician's powerful rhetoric captivated the audience and swayed their opinions."

to characterize or influence a style, behavior, opinion, etc.

"The color will inform the mood."

"The vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes of the painting serve to inform the viewer's emotional response."

according to the rules that are broadly accepted or are official

"This is the canonical text."

"The research followed canonical procedures, ensuring that the findings were accepted by the scientific community."

using language in a way that words don't have their actual meaning, but an imaginative meaning instead

"It was a figurative expression."

"The poet used figurative language to evoke a sense of longing and melancholy in his verses."

(of language or music) clear and easy to understand

"The water is limpid."

"The water is limpid and clear so you can see the fish swimming at the bottom of the stream."

having an existence that is independent of personal perception or interpretation

"The measure is objective."

"The scientist strived to maintain an objective viewpoint, free from personal bias or emotional influence."

existing within one's mind and dependent on one's perspective rather than reality

"My opinion is subjective."

"Beauty is subjective, existing only in the eye of the beholder and varying greatly from person to person."